william j



(No Model.)

w. J. OOWING. STAIR ROD FASTENER,

No 269,181. Patented Dec. 19, 1882.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

. WILLIAM J. OOWING, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

. STAlR-ROD FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,181, dated December 19, 1882.

Application filed October 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. GOWING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stair-Rod Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in stair-rod holders or securers, and is applicable to either a flat or'round rod, whichever may be most convenient to use and it consists in the novel construction of the device, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder, showing the rod in position. Fig. 2 is also a perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. views of modifications;

A and A represent the deviceconstructed in two sections, hinged at their lower ends and bottoms, theinnersection, A, and bottom a being made of one piece of metal, the cover or outer section, A, being curved from its hinged or lower end and sloping 01'1" at an angle to- Ward its upper end and terminating in a lip, 11, nnd er which the lower section, A, is caught atits upper end by said lip, a catch or fastening being formed by means of a lip, 11, on said inner section, passing underneath the lip 12 of the cover or outer section.

B B are the sides thereof, one of which may be closed and the other open for the insertion of rods, as shown in Figs.2 and 4; or both sides may be left entirely open, if desirable. The sides of these sections have near the top thereof elliptical openings G O U, as respectively shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, for the purpose of inserting the thumb and fingers for opening the sections when necessary.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown modifications of the invention above described, wherein a round rod in one instance and a flat rod in the other instance may be used, as desired, the device in Fig. 4. differing very slightly from the one heretofore described with this exceptionthat the curve is more fullor semi-cylindrical. The construction of the device shown in Fig. 5, in which flat rods are used, has its inner section, D, and bottom 01 also made of one piece of metal, and is in the form of the letter L, and is hinged to the outer or S-shaped curved portion or cover E. In this form of construction Figs. 4 and5 are also perspective one or both sides may be left open also; but I prefer to have one side onlyopen, as the constant treadiugup and down the stairs tends to the longitudinal displacement of the rods when both sides are open; but where there is only one side open no such displacement of the rods can take place. The inner sections,

A, of the device have one or more screws or nail holes therein for fastening them to the steps, which can be easily and readily done by throwing back the cover or outer sections, A, thereof.

It will, from the above description, .be readily understood that in using my device all that is necessary to be done is for the operator to place the inner sections, having the screw-holes therein, against the steps, with the larger ends downward, and then throw back the outer'sections, whenthe inner sections can'be fastened to the steps, and the rods are then inserted in their places, and the covers are then closed over them, when the lipson the outer sections, acting as springs, spring over the lips of the inner sections, and the device is then tightly closed. When it becomes necessary for the rods to be taken out to be cleaned, or for other purposes, the thumb I andfinger are inserted in the elliptical openings, and the outer sections or covers are pressed back and a little upward at the same time, when the covers or outer sections are immediately opened, and the rods can then be taken out. i

My device in its construction is simple, cheap to manufacture, and is not easy to get out of order. p

I am aware that it is not new to construct a stair-rod holder in two sections and hinged at its lower end, and with lips or catches atfthe upper ends thereof; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V The herein-described stair'rod holder, consisting of the two. sections A and A, hinged at their lower ends, and provided with elliptical openings 0 O G, and lips 11 and b, and sections D and E, all constructed and operating, substantially as set forth.

.In testimony whereof. I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. J. OOWING.

Witnesses.

E. J. SWEET, V D. P. HOLLOWAY. 

